GALT – For the second time in less than two months, a law enforcement officer has been slain in the line of duty in Galt, officials said Tuesday.

Galt police Officer Kevin Tonn was shot around 11:30 this morning, according to police, and the suspect later took his own life.

“You don’t ever think this is going to happen in a small town like this,” said Galt resident and business owner Stephanie Moe. “A lot of the officers have grown up here their whole lives, and that’s why they come back here to protect their community.”

Tonn had gone to the area on the call of a home burglary around 11:20 a.m. He was trying to stop a man nearby and chased him across the railroad tracks. It is unclear if he was involved with the burglary. Tonn called for backup at 11:30. A second officer arrived very soon after that call.

The suspect fired at Tonn and other officers, striking Tonn but missing the others, police said. Tonn was transported to a hospital, where he was declared dead.

His slaying comes less than two months after animal control officer Roy Marcum, a non-gun-carrying member of the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department, was fatally shot by Joseph Corey, 65, who was being evicted.

Come back to Recordnet.com and read Wednesday’s Record for more on this story by staff writer Jason Anderson.